Bench supported, hand operated tube bender



Oct. 4, 1955 1.. D. BlZAK 2,719,561

BENCH SUPPORTED, HAND OPERATED TUBE BENDER Filed Jan. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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Oct. 4, 1955 D. BlZAK 2,719,561

BENCH SUPPORTED, HAND OPERATED TUBE BENDER Filed Jan. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31 INVENTOR.

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Was/[6722 Oct. 4, 1955 L. D. BlZAK 2,719,561

BENCH SUPPORTED, HAND OPERATED TUBE BENDER Filed Jan. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R k INVENZOR.

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ffl/mgmy United States Patent BENCH SUPPORTED, HAND OPERATED TUBE BENDER Louis D. Bizak, Wickliffe, Ohio, assignor to The Parker Appliance Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 1 Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,411

13 Claims. (Cl. 15340) operate. In some it has been impossible to make selective right or left hand bends. In others it has been necessary to thread tubing endwise through receiving portions of the bending devices, and hence difficulty was experienced, or it was found impossible to apply the bending devices intermediatel'y of the ends of tubes. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a bench supported, hand actuated tube bender which will avoid all of the disadvantages and difficulties to which reference has been made.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in providing a tube bender of the character stated wherein there are included a supporting base mountable on a rigid support, a bender head swingably mounted on the base and having a half-circular peripheral portion bearing concentric relation to the swing center of the head and including an approximately half round tube receiving groove therein, an actuator handle projecting from the head centered with relation to said peripheral portion and extending radially with relation to the swing center, a tube receiving hook swingable with the head, said head having a clearance at an end of its peripheral portion adjacent the hook and extending at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees toward intersection with the handle center and so spaced with relation to the tube engaging portion of the hook as to permit insertion of a tube between the hook and the head without endwise threading thereof, and a die memher having an elongated tube engaging face portion placeable opposite and in tangential relation to the peripheral portion of the head and having a half-round groove therein for cooperating with the head groove in approximately completely encircling a tube engaged therebetween so that a tube engaging the hook and between said grooves will be drawn along the die groove and bent about in the head groove by swinging of the head about its pivot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube bender of the character stated wherein the die member includes a portion presentable opposite the head periphery to cooperate with the hook and head clearance in providing free space into which a tube to be bent can be received without end threading thereof, means for shiftably mounting the die member being included so that it can be placed in one position for receiving a tube and in another position for cooperating in the bending of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube bender of the character stated wherein the head has an angular clearance at each side thereof and is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees, the hook being swingably mounted on the head so as to be presentable at one side or the other of the head, and the die member being shiftable to permit presentation of its elongated tube engaging face in one direction or another relative to the tube en- "ice gaging periphery of the head so that selective tube bending to the right or to the left can be effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube bender of the character stated wherein the head has two ninety degree scales extending about the peripheral portion thereof with two diametrically opposite zero marks at the ends thereof and a single ninety degree mark centrally disposed and common to both scales.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view illustrating the improved tube bender, the parts being shown in position for receiving a tube preparatory to the making of a right hand bend.

Figure 2 is a plan view with the parts in position for commencement of the right hand bend, a partial completion of the bend being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a plan view with the parts in position for the commencement of a left hand bend.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 44 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section on the line 55 on Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of the reversible bending die and the tube gripping hook respectively.

In the practical development of the inventionv the improved tube bender is constructed to include a; base 5 having ear projections or mounting lugs 6 which are apertured at 7 to receive securing screws or bolts for attaching the same to a bench or other rigid support. The base 5 also includes a boss 8 from which a pivot stud 9 projects upwardly, and the base has another support boss 10 from which a mounting pin 11 projects upwardly, said pin having a head enlargement 12 having flattened sides 13 spaced apart the distance of the pin diameter.

The mounting pin 11 serves to removably mount a reversible stationary bending die 14 including an elongated tube engaging face 15 having a groove 16 therein which is half-round in cross section to receive approximately half the diameter of a tube which is to be bent. The die 14 includes a small rounded extension 17, and adjacent and projecting into said extension is an elongated flat sided aperture 18 having rounded end portions conforming to the curvature of the mounting pin 11. It will be noted that the flat sidesof the aperture are spaced apart a distance for permittinginsertion of the fiat sides 13 of the mounting pin therethrough. The pin and slot equipment thus serves to shiftably and removably mount the die 14. It will be apparent that the die 14 is swingable about the pin 11, and by registering the fiat sides 13 of the pin with the fiat sides of the aperture 18 the die can be readily removed from the pin, reversed, or turned over, and replaced on the pin, thereby to direct the elongated and grooved face 15 of the die in a selected direction.

A bender head 19 is swingably mounted on the stud 9 and includes a half circular peripheral portion 20 having a groove 21 therein which is half round in cross section and disposed to cooperate with the groove 16 in the die member in approximately completely embracing a tube which is to be bent and which is engaged by said grooved surfaces. The head 19 has two scales 22 extending about the peripheral portion thereof, the two scales starting at diametrically oppositely disposed zero marks and meeting at a common, centrally disposed mark.

The head 19 is also equipped with two side clearances 23, one thereof merging into the end of the part circular 3 periphery at each terminus thereof. Each clearance 23 is disposed at an angle of approximately 45, as will be apparent by reference to Figure 1.

A stop projection 24 is provided at each side of the head 19 adjacent the particular terminus of the part circular periphery thereof, and these stops serve to limit movement of, and to accurately fix the selected effective positions of the hook arm 25 which is swingably mounted at 26 on the head. The arm 25 includes a tube gripping hook end portion 27 defined in part by converging, point defining edges 28. When swung to one side or the other of the head 19, one of the hook point defining edges 28 will approximately parallel the adjacent angular clearance 23 in such spaced relation as will permit the insertion of a tube therebetween in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. An actuator handle 29 is secured to the head 19 and projects radially with relation to the part circular portion of the head and its swing center. The handle can be utilized to swing the head 19 about its pivotal mounting 9, and is disposed at a high level as indicated in Figure to permit swinging of the hook arm 25 beneath for presenting the same at one side or the other of the head, or in other words at one limit or the other of the part circular peripheral portion thereof against a selected one of the stops 24.

In the use of the bender, assuming that a right hand bend is to be made, the parts will be positioned as shown in Figure 1, and a tube to be bent can be quickly and conveniently inserted between the hook end 27 and the adjacent end of the part circular periphery of the head 19. By positioning of the die 14 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, the cut-away portion or clearance provided by the positioning of the small rounded portion 17 results in the provision of a space into which the tube can be inserted at a point intermediately of the ends thereof and without necessity of endwise threading of the tube. By now positioning the die 14 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, and turning the handle 29 in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by dot and dash lines on Figure 2, the bend can be made. The engaged stop 24 will cause the hook arm to turn with the head 19 and draw the tube along the stationary die surface 16, bending the same about the head groove 21 in the desired manner.

When it is desired to make a left hand bend, the same starting procedure and bending action will be followed with the die 14 reversed, or shifted, to the position illustrated in Figure 3.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 5 that the portion of the base extending laterally from the portion having the mounting lugs 6 has its under surface raised as at 30. The portion from which the mounting lugs 6 project thus depends freely from the base and presents parallel side wall portions 31 which may be gripped between vice jaws 32 as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 4 as an alternative rigid bench mounting for the device.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tube bender of the character described comprising a supporting base mountable on a rigid support, a bender head swingably mounted on the base and having a half-circular peripheral portion bearing concentric relation to the swing center of the head and including an approximately half round tube receiving groove therein and extending through each end of said peripheral portion, an elongated actuator handle projecting from the head centered with relation to said peripheral portion and extending radially with relation to the swing center,

a tube receiving hook mounted on and swingable with the head, said head having a clearance at an end of its peripheral portion adjacent the hook and extending at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees toward intersection with the longitudinal center of the handle and so spaced with relation to the tube engaging portion of the hook as to permit insertion of a tube between the hook and the head without endwise threading of the tube, and a die member supported on the supporting base at a fixed point with relation to the swingable head and having an elongated tube engaging face portion placeable opposite and in tangential relation to the peripheral portion of the head, said elongated tube engaging face having a half-round groove therein for coop crating with the head groove in approximately completely encircling a tube engaged therebetween so that a tube engaging the hook and between said grooves will be drawn along the die groove and bent about in the head groove by swinging of the head about its pivot.

2. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the die member has a tube clearing cut-away portion pre sentable opposite the head periphery to cooperate with the hook and the head clearance in providing free space into which a tube can be inserted at a portion of its length intermediate its ends, and there is included means for shiftably mounting said die member on the base so that said last named portion thereof or its elongated face portion can be presented toward the head periphery.

3. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends.

4. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angu lar clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said head also having thereon two ninety degree scales extending about the peripheral portion thereof with two diametrically opposite Zero marks at the ends of said peripheral portion and a single ninety degree mark centrally disposed and common to both scales.

5. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angu lar clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said head also having two stops positioned at opposite sides thereof and effective to accurately place the hook in its cooperative relation to the respective ends of the peripheral portion of the head.

6. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said head also having two stops positioned at opposite sides thereof and effective to accurately place the hook in its cooperative relation to the respective ends of the peripheral portion of the head, and said head also having thereon two ninty degree scales extending about the peripheral portion thereof with two diametrically opposite zero marks at the ends of said peripheral portion and a single ninety degree mark centrally disposed and common to both scales.

7. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, and the elongated face portion of the die is presentable to extend in one direction or in the opposite direction for cooperation with the head in either direction in which it is turned in the making of right or left bends.

8. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, the die member having a tube clearing cut-away portion presentable opposite the head periphery to cooperate with the hook and either head clearance in providing free space into which a tube can be inserted at a portion of its length intermediate its ends, and there is included means for shiftably mounting said die member on the base so that said last named portion thereof or its elongated face portion can be presented in cooperative relation to the hook and the head for the making of selective right or left bends.

9. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, the die member having a tube clear ing cut away portion presentable opposite the head periphcry to cooperate with the hook and either head clearance in providing free space into which a tube can be inserted at a portion of its length intermediate its ends, and there is included means for shiftably mounting said die member on the base so that said last named portion thereof or its elongated face portion can be presented in cooperative relation to the hook and the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said hook including two converging angularly directed edge portions for lying in generally parallel spaced relation to one or the other of the angular clearances of the head accordingly as the hook and head are arranged for right or left bends.

10. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said head also having two stops positioned at opposite sides thereof and effective to accurately place the hook in its cooperative relation to the respective ends of the peripheral portion of the head, said hook including two converging angularly directed edge portions for lying in generally parallel spaced relation to one or the other of the angular clearances of the head accordingly as the hook and head are arranged for right or left bends.

11. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at the side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, and the elongated face portion of the die is presentable to extend in one direction or in the opposite direction for cooperation with the head in either direction in which it is turned in the making of right or left bends, the die mounting means comprising quick detachable headed pin and slot means permitting removal and selective reverse replacement of the die accordingly as right or left bends are to be made.

12. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the head is free to swing one hundred and eighty degrees about its swing center, said head having a second angular clearance identical to the first defined clearance and disposed at side thereof opposite said first defined clearance and bearing such angular relation thereto that the lines of projection of said clearances converge and intersect along the longitudinal center of the handle, and wherein the hook is swingably mounted on the head so that it can be presented in like position at either side thereof to adapt the head for the making of selective right or left bends, said hook being upwardly offset at that portion thereof which is swingably mounted on the head so as to present said swingably mounted portion in a plane approximating the plane occupied by the tube receiving grooves, and said actuator handle projecting from the head at a high point so as to permit free swinging of the hook under said handle.

13. A tube bender as defined in claim 1 wherein the base includes a depending portion presenting parallel sides which may be gripped between the jaws of a vise as a rigid mounting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,390 Stirling Mar. 14, 1893 847,094 Monnet Mar. 12, 1907 997,364 Blackman July 11, 1911 1,852,515 Haddock Apr. 5, 1932 2,171,907 Beehler Sept. 5, 1939 2,428,237 McIntosh Sept. 30, 1947 2,455,138 Perkins Nov. 30, 1948 

